Little Sure Shot In Technicolor

On this day in 1950, Annie Get Your Gun had its premiere. The American musical Technicolor comedy film is loosely based on the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, named by Sitting Bull as "Little Sure Shot." The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and a screenplay by Sidney Sheldon, is based on the 1946 stage musical of the same name. The film was one of the top-grossing pictures of the year. The film received favorable reviews with the dynamic Betty Hutton recognized with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. She was supported by a first-rate cast, including Howard Keel with his usual bit of scene-stealing. Infamously, Judy Garland was fired from the lead role after a month of filming because she was impossible to work with, clashing with the director, repeatedly making demands, or showing up late or not at all.

Little Sure Shot of The Wild West

 

On this day in 1922, Annie Oakley (Phoebe Ann Mosey 1860-1926) set a women's record by shooting 100 clay targets in a row (above in 1899). The American sharpshooter starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show earning more than anyone except Buffalo Bill himself. Born near Greenville, Ohio, she won a shooting contest against experienced marksman Frank E. Butler at age 15. They would later marry and the duo joined Buffalo Bill in 1885, performing in Europe before royalty and other heads of state. At five feet tall, Oakley was given the nickname of "Watanya Cicilla" by fellow performer Sitting Bull, a rough translation meaning "Little Sure Shot" for the purposes of public advertisements. Audiences were astounded to see her shooting a cigar from her husband's lips or splitting a playing-card edge-on at 30 paces, or shooting her rifle backward over her shoulder using a mirror.